Mark Reich

Mark Reich is recognized for his expertise in lean management and the Toyota Production System, with more than two decades of experience at Toyota. Reich was among the first Americans hired at Toyota's global headquarters, where he spent 23 years, beginning with six years in Japan in the Overseas Planning Division. In this role, he was responsible for product planning and collaborated with chief engineers to define vehicle specifications for overseas markets during the introduction of Lexus. Fluent in Japanese, Reich gained in-depth knowledge of Toyota's culture of continuous improvement.

After returning to the United States, Reich joined the Toyota Supplier Support Center, a nonprofit organization focused on the practical application of the Toyota Production System in manufacturing. As general manager, he expanded the number of companies supported by the center and led its transition to nonprofit status to better support North American manufacturing and organizations interested in implementing lean principles. Reich also worked to extend the Toyota Production System beyond manufacturing to sectors such as healthcare and nonprofit organizations. He later joined Toyota's Corporate Strategy group in North America, where, as assistant general manager, he managed the North American hoshin kanri process, aligning organizational strategy during a period of significant growth.

Reich has held several leadership roles at Lean Enterprise Institute, including chief operating officer, senior coach, and chief engineer, strategy. He has led lean transformations and coached executives in hoshin kanri across various industries, with clients such as Freeman, GE Appliances, Legal Sea Foods, Michigan Medicine, Nucleus Software, and Turner Construction. Reich emphasizes that lean thinking is not just about tools but about developing people and aligning organizational purpose.

Reich is the author of "Managing on Purpose," published by Lean Enterprise Institute. The workbook provides practical guidance for leaders implementing hoshin kanri, offering insights into developing corporate and departmental strategies while fostering leadership development and innovation. The book's full title is "Managing on Purpose: Using Hoshin Kanri to Develop Strategy, Align Teams, Grow Leaders, and Innovate Your Enterprise." Reich has delivered keynote speeches and led panel discussions at industry events, including Lean Summit, where he hosted senior executives from GE Appliances, Turner Construction, Grand Rapids Chair, and Nucleus Software. As a keynote speaker, Reich advocates for a focus on purpose, alignment, and leadership behavior, highlighting the importance of dialogue and shared responsibility in strategy deployment.